The Greatest Places (1998)

Majestic Landscapes in Seven Locations
Greatest Places: IMAX is collectible and awe-inspiring, however, it is a very quick journey to vast expansive landscapes that will require further exploration. Once you are introduced to seven of the most amazing places on earth, you can then look up additional IMAX movies.

The footage in this DVD captures vibrant moments in stunning beauty. An elephant rises from a river in a display of pure power and herds sweep across dry landscapes creating an almost primal glory as hooves thunder across the African plains. Almost indescribably beautiful waterfalls, majestic rivers and towering icebergs contrast with the Namib Desert and Tibetan plateau.

The filming takes place mostly in places with lush vegetation and abundant water, making this especially nurturing and healing. The lives of the animals featured throughout are captured with a sense of artistic perfection.

The extras include Audio tracks in English, French and German. There is also a detailed soundtrack so you can listen to the movie with your eyes closed and imagine the scenery.

~The Rebecca Review

Abbreviated IMAX Format at Odds with the Ambitious Scope of the Subject
I have enjoyed IMAX films in the past, in particular, "Everest", but this 1998 release directed by Mal Wolfe is comparatively disappointing. The primary problem is one of scope. In the span of forty minutes, we are taken to seven diverse locations around the globe - Madagascar, the Amazon basin, Iguazu Falls between Brazil and Argentina, the Tibetan plateau, the Namib Desert in southwestern Africa, the Okavango Delta in Botswana, and Greenland - each of which warrants its own IMAX film. While each segment offers visual treats worth savoring, the consequence of the ambitious scope is that the film feels cursory and the perspective unbalanced. Each locale certainly lends a certain exoticism, but ultimately, the choice of places feels somewhat arbitrary, as one could count off other areas that hold as much intrigue, for example, the Galapagos Islands, Patagonia, the Serengeti, the Australian outback, the Mariana Trenches, etc.

In the film, some areas like Madagascar and Greenland get relatively more time, while coverage of other areas like Iguazu Falls is hardly more than a series of panoramic snapshots. Granted Chuck Davis's cinematography is razor-sharp and often breathtaking, the vertical depth of IMAX films seems particularly cut-off in this film's translation to the TV screen, which at times makes one wonder what is going on below the screen. Compounding the problem is the pretentious script by Pamela Stacey, full of high-minded descriptions that come off rather condescending and remedial as actor Avery Brooks (the Captain on the "Star Trek: Deep Space Nine" TV series) tries his best to mimic the stentorian vigor of James Earl Jones in his narration. As a result, the film feels targeted toward middle school students taking geography rather than interested armchair global travelers like myself. It's obvious that the film took a lot of effort, apparently three years of effort to complete, but sadly, I have to say it's more an eye-pleasing series of movable postcards that lend minimal insight into the eco-history of these areas.

Great scenery, when you actually get a chance to look at it
I watched this DVD shortly after returning from 7 months straight of traveling around Asia, India/Nepal, Arabia, and Australia. I started it up with much anticipation, hoping it would wet my appetite (Which needed and continues to get a rest at the moment) for more travel to places further afield.

Unfortunately, I have to agree with an earlier reviewer. The video skips around so fast and frequently that hardly enough time is given to enjoying the manificient landscapes that the video team traveled too. I found myself replaying certain sections and pressing the pause button. This video could have been so much more. They started with a great idea.

The off the beaten path destinations themselves make me give this video 3 stars. Perhaps the preferred IMAX feature length does not lend itself to such a video that travels to numerous places. Perhaps if the team concentrated on 1/2 as many places the result would have been better.